Hand protector



Jan. 16, 1934. c. TWEEDIE 1,943,567

HAND PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZZ'J C. TWEEDIE HANDPROTECTOR Jan. 16,1934.

Filed 001;. 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITEDSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

6- Claims.

My invention relates to means for preventing blistering and callousingof hands by the use of golf clubs and the like. The principal object ofthe present invention is to provide a device of this kind which willafford ample protection to the hand without impairing its grip oraffecting the delicacy of its touch and which will be quite simple,comfortable, easy to apply and inexpensive. The invention consists inthe device here- .Lnafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 illustrates a blank suitable for the manufacture of my device,

Fig. 2 is a view of my device from the front,

Fig. 3 is a view of the device from the back,

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the device as applied to the hand,

20 Fig. 5 is a view of the front side of the device,

showing it applied to the hand,

Fig. 6 is a view of the back of the device, showing it applied to thehand,

Fig. '7 illustrates a blank suitable for the manufacture of a modifiedform of protector,

Fig. 8 is a view of the modified protector from the back,

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the modified device,

I Fig. 10 is a front view of the modified device showing it applied tothe hand; and

Fig. 11 is a view of the back of the modified device showing it appliedto the hand.

As shown in sheet 1 of the drawings, my device is made from a singlepiece A of relatively soft and moderately light leather with a suede orrough finish. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the longitudinal axis of theblank A is longer than is required to form a band enclosing the fourfingers of the hand.

At its middle, or transverse axis 1, (being the line which registerswith the space between the second and third fingers when applied to thehand), the width of the blank A is about one inch. From this transverseaxis 1 the blank A widens gradually, as at 3, in both directions and onboth sides of the longitudinal axis 2 for distances substantially equalto the widths of the second and third fingers respectively and thencedecreases to a minimum width at points 4 about a finger width from therespective ends of the blank, from which points the blank again widensto its ends 5. The ends 5 of the blank above described are doubled backand secured to the mid portion thereof substantially at or adjacent tothe transverse axis 1, by means of stitching 6 or by cement that isunaffected by water or perspiration, thus forming two loops 7 on theback side of the protector.

The device is applied to the hand by passing only the first and fourthfingers through the loops 7 formed by securing the respective ends 5 ofthe blank to the middle portion thereof. In use, the narrowest portions4 of the device he respectively at the bottom of the fork between thefirst and second fingers and at the bottom of Y the fork between thethird and four fingers respectively, the transverse axis 1 beingopposite the space between the second and third fingers.

In this position, the longitudinal axis 2 of the device is so far backon the hand that the device covers the principal areas that are mostlikely to be blistered and aifords indirect but substantial protectionfor other areas, as will appear from Fig.

5. In this Fig. 5, the areas likely to be blistered are indicated by thedotted ovals marked B, the most important of which are substantiallycovered by theprotector which, as indicated, extends outwardly somewhatbeyond the third phalanges of the second and third fingers. The markedareas that are not directly covered are indirectly so protected byreason of the adjacent material relieving such areas of a considerableportion of the pressure to which they would otherwise be exposed. Thusthe forward parts of the fingers are free and uncovered and, therefore,maintain f their delicacy of touch and still are very well protectedfrom the shifting and excessive pressures that cause blistering.

When the hand grips a handle 8, as shown in Fig. 5, there is aconsiderable depression where the middle fingers join the palm, and suchdepression contributes considerably to the movements that causeblistering. In my device, such depression is practically filled by theback portion thereof corresponding to the ends of the blank and thus thetendency to blister in this region is overcome. Likewise the notches orindentations at the middle of the device allow the hand to get a bettergrip without substantial interference by the protector.

The device hereinbefore described is designed for the protection of thehand in the use of golf clubs and the like. Sheet 2 of the drawingsillustrates a modification designed for protection of the hand in theuse of a bait casting rod or i the like. In such use, the index fingeris liable to be blistered or skinned, and it is desirable to protect theknuckles and the side face of the index finger. In the design of sheet2, the blank A of leather or other suitable material is W doubled backand stitched or otherwise fastened to form a loop 10 at each end, thelength of the device being sufficient to permit the first and fourthfingers to be encircled by the respective loops. In this design, thedevice is relatively narrow throughout the greater portion thereof; butthe portion corresponding to the inner side and top. of the index fingeris widened, as at 11, in both directions from the longitudinal axis ofthe device. When this device is applied to the hand, with its inner edgeresting against the bottom of the fork between the first and secondfingers, the widened portion 11 will protect the side'and top of theindex finger without impairing its grip or the freedom of movement ofany portion of the hand.

While I have described particular examples of my device, I do not wishto be limited to the details set forth, as it is obvious that the devicemay be made of a plurality of pieces and that the specific design issusceptible of modification.

What I claim is:

1. A single ply leather hand protector comprising a free portion whichwidens for a distance from the mid portion thereof and thence narrows tothe ends thereof and back portions continuous with said face portion anddisposed substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof and securedthereto at said narrow mid portion to form a finger loop at each end.

2. A one-piece hand protecting device whose ends are doubled back andsecured to the body portion at the longitudinal axis thereof toconstitute loops adapted to encircle the first and fourth fingers of thehand, the portion of said loops in position to lie between adjacentfingers being relatively narrow and the loop which encircles the firstfinger having a portion which is wide enough to cover the palm surfacesof the first and second joints of said finger.

3. A hand protector comprising a body portion with a protective portionwide enough to extend somewhat beyond the third phalange of a fingerwhen applied to a hand and comprising lobes separated by a substantialcut away portion, and narrow end extensions disposed substantially alongthe longitudinal axis thereof 5. A single-ply hand protector of leatheror i the like comprising a face portion and back portions continuouswith said face portion and disposed substantially along the longitudinalaxis thereof and secured thereto near the middle thereof, said backportions being narrower than the front portion and narrowest aboutmidway between the middle and the ends of the protector, the edges ofsaid front portion being deeply notched about midway of its length andconverging from said notches towards its ends, said front portion beingof such width near said notches that, when the protector is applied toan open hand with one edge of its back portions against the respectiveforks between the first and second and the third and fourth fingers, theparts of the outer edge of the front portion near the notch therein willextend somewhat beyond the outer ends of the third phalanges of thesecond and third fingers.

6. A hand protecting device whose ends extend along the longitudinalaxis of said device and are doubled back to constitute loops adapted toencircle the first and fourth fingers of the hand, the loops beingnarrow and the protective portions of the device being in the form oflobes on opposite sides and said longitudinal axis, the lobes on theouter edge extending somewhat beyond the outer ends of the thirdphalanges of the second and third fingers, the narrow part of the faceportion being of substantially the same width as the mid-back portionand secured thereto.

CHARLES TWEEDIE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

January 16, 1934.

Patent No. 1,943,567.

CHARLES TWEEDIE.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the abeve numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 2.4, claim 1, for "free" read face; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same'mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of February, A. D. 1934.

F. M. Hopkins Acting Commissioner of Patents,

(Seat)

